The human brain cannot comprehend the negative. It is incapable. Yes, it's true. I'll give you an example. Okay, no, no, I'll give you an example. You don't have to believe me, I'll prove it.

I'll prove it. Okay, the human brain cannot comprehend the negative. You ready? Don't think of an elephant.

You can't. You can't tell the human brain not to do something, right? And so what happens is we very often reinforce things when we put things in the negative, right?

I can't get apart, I can't get apart, I can't get apart, right? Or, um, I can't do this versus I'm going to keep doing this, I'm going to keep doing this, I'm going to keep doing this, right?

Um, and, and it's, it's such a huge thing to convert things into the affirmative.

You're supposed to do with children as well. We're supposed to say instead of saying to children, don't eat on the couch, we're supposed to say, eat at the table, right?

We tell people what we want them to do, not what we don't want to do.

Pilots know this, right? It is well known in the pilot community that when you tell a pilot, don't hit the obstacle, they'll hit the obstacle because what they're doing is focusing on the obstacle.

Skiers know this. If, if you've ever seen skiers go through trees, do you know how they do that?

It's very easy. It's actually surprisingly easy. If you go through trees on skis and you go, don't hit a tree, don't hit a tree, don't hit a tree, guess what you're watching?

You're only looking at trees. All you're doing is seeing trees.

You don't understand how anyone can ski with all these trees, right? As opposed to follow the snow, follow the path.

follow the path, the only thing you see is the path. Skiers know this. If you say, "Don't hit a tree," you'll hit a tree.

You won't be able to find a path because all you see is millions of trees. If you say, "Only follow the path," you actually don't see any trees. There's actually very sparse trees.

There's plenty of path, there's plenty of snow. It's the same thing for you. If you focus on the obstacles, all you will see is obstacles.

If you focus on the path through the trees, all you will see is path through the trees.

It's your choice how you choose to perceive your own career. It's literally perspective.

How to Stop Holding Yourself Back | Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together.

Simon has devoted his life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and return home fulfilled at the end of the day.  Every day is an opportunity to inspire someone. 

Official Simon Sinek brand account.

Learn more at simonsinek.com.